More road and bridge work in Terrebonne

Published: Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 12:05 a.m.

The St. Ann Bridge in Bourg closed Monday so crews can build a new one that is scheduled to reopen late next year.

The shutdown has resulted in traffic congestion, some residents said.

Over the past work week, residents say they tried to adjust to the change and additional traffic on surrounding streets that they believe stems from the construction.

“I understand that new construction is necessary for that area, but the way this town is going about it is all wrong in my opinion,” said Tellie Christofferson, 36, of Bourg.

The bridge, which connects Country Drive and La. 24 over Bayou Terrebonne, is being demolished to make way for a new span.

The current structure has one lane, 14 feet wide, and opens by swinging to one side. The new bridge will be two lanes, or about 33 feet wide.

The project will cost about $4.2 million and is supposed to be complete by August 2013.

Residents cite the Prospect Bridge’s two-year closure and the future Country Drive widening projects as other reasons for their concern.

Since the St. Ann Bridge closed, some said, traffic backs up on other roads motorists use to detour around the Prospect Bridge construction, such as the elevated road connecting Presque Isle and Country Drive near South Terrebonne High School.

“I feel the Prospect Bridge project should have been completed before the St. Ann bridge project started. It would have been a better solution to hold the bridge closure in Bourg until then. Now, we have two main bridges to the east-Houma area closed for God knows how long,” Christofferson said.

Parish President Michel Claudet said that inconvenience should end this summer. The Prospect Bridge is scheduled to reopen by Sept. 1, he said.

“The opening date for the Prospect Bridge has been pushed back a few times, but I’m confident in the latest date I received. I really do trust this latest information,” he said.

The two-lane Prospect drawbridge was demolished and replaced with a $27-million a six-lane span.

The widening of Country Drive in Bourg is set to begin in 2013. The work is designed to improve traffic flow and safety along the two-lane corridor, which runs between Presque Isle Drive and Montegut, officials said.

The $4 million project will widen each of the existing lanes from 9 to 11 feet and add a 4-foot wide paved shoulder on each side. No new lanes will be added.

The work will be done in two phases. The first part will focus on the stretch between Presque Isle Drive and Jeff Drive. The second phase will pick up at Jeff Drive and continue to La. 24.

The price tag is expected to total about $4 million, and much of the money is coming from the state transportation department and the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which will pay 80 percent of the cost. Terrebonne Parish taxpayers will pay the remaining 20 percent or about $800,000.

Public Works officials aren’t sure exactly when construction will begin. It was approved by the state Transportation Department in 2010.

Local drivers said they are glad the work will be done on Country Drive, but they are concerned about the timing, adding that Country Drive traffic has been horrible since Monday and will be even worse when the road is closed for construction.

“I can’t even begin to express what kind of traffic problems we will face once school starts,” Christofferson said.

Britney Bouquet, 27, agreed that she isn’t looking forward to school traffic either.

“I so hate it. People speed like crazy, and there are hardly ever any cops. It’s not going to be fun once the teenagers and bus riders start up in August. I’m dreading it,” she said.

<p>The St. Ann Bridge in Bourg closed Monday so crews can build a new one that is scheduled to reopen late next year. </p><p>The shutdown has resulted in traffic congestion, some residents said.</p><p>Over the past work week, residents say they tried to adjust to the change and additional traffic on surrounding streets that they believe stems from the construction.</p><p>“I understand that new construction is necessary for that area, but the way this town is going about it is all wrong in my opinion,” said Tellie Christofferson, 36, of Bourg.</p><p>The bridge, which connects Country Drive and La. 24 over Bayou Terrebonne, is being demolished to make way for a new span. </p><p>The current structure has one lane, 14 feet wide, and opens by swinging to one side. The new bridge will be two lanes, or about 33 feet wide.</p><p>The project will cost about $4.2 million and is supposed to be complete by August 2013.</p><p>Residents cite the Prospect Bridge's two-year closure and the future Country Drive widening projects as other reasons for their concern. </p><p>Since the St. Ann Bridge closed, some said, traffic backs up on other roads motorists use to detour around the Prospect Bridge construction, such as the elevated road connecting Presque Isle and Country Drive near South Terrebonne High School. </p><p>“I feel the Prospect Bridge project should have been completed before the St. Ann bridge project started. It would have been a better solution to hold the bridge closure in Bourg until then. Now, we have two main bridges to the east-Houma area closed for God knows how long,” Christofferson said. </p><p>Parish President Michel Claudet said that inconvenience should end this summer. The Prospect Bridge is scheduled to reopen by Sept. 1, he said.</p><p>“The opening date for the Prospect Bridge has been pushed back a few times, but I'm confident in the latest date I received. I really do trust this latest information,” he said. </p><p>The two-lane Prospect drawbridge was demolished and replaced with a $27-million a six-lane span.</p><p>The widening of Country Drive in Bourg is set to begin in 2013. The work is designed to improve traffic flow and safety along the two-lane corridor, which runs between Presque Isle Drive and Montegut, officials said.</p><p>The $4 million project will widen each of the existing lanes from 9 to 11 feet and add a 4-foot wide paved shoulder on each side. No new lanes will be added.</p><p>The work will be done in two phases. The first part will focus on the stretch between Presque Isle Drive and Jeff Drive. The second phase will pick up at Jeff Drive and continue to La. 24.</p><p>The price tag is expected to total about $4 million, and much of the money is coming from the state transportation department and the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which will pay 80 percent of the cost. Terrebonne Parish taxpayers will pay the remaining 20 percent or about $800,000.</p><p>Public Works officials aren't sure exactly when construction will begin. It was approved by the state Transportation Department in 2010.</p><p>Local drivers said they are glad the work will be done on Country Drive, but they are concerned about the timing, adding that Country Drive traffic has been horrible since Monday and will be even worse when the road is closed for construction. </p><p>“I can't even begin to express what kind of traffic problems we will face once school starts,” Christofferson said. </p><p>Britney Bouquet, 27, agreed that she isn't looking forward to school traffic either. </p><p>“I so hate it. People speed like crazy, and there are hardly ever any cops. It's not going to be fun once the teenagers and bus riders start up in August. I'm dreading it,” she said.</p>